A brief post to recommend Futakotamagawa (二子玉川) and Okutama (奥多摩), my favorite places in Tokyo. If you are looking for a different feel of Tokyo and to get away from the shopping and crowds, check these two spots out!
I liked Futakotamagawa for the long stretch of greenery along Tama River. It was the perfect place to enjoy a cycling day under the sun with some windchill, while overlooking the high-rises from the metropolitan area from afar. I recall the ward offered free bicycle rental options for residents / foreigners with passports which was a nice perk.
An interesting place to visit in Futakotamagawa is the Tsutaya Electrics, a large lifestyle store where you can browse books from the bookstore section or play around with some home appliances / gadgets in the electronics section.
Jiyugaoka, which is nearby, is also a trendy place to visit!
Whenever I didn’t feel like mountain hiking, I would think of Okutama, another outdoor haven close to Tokyo. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for light hiking options. There is the Hatonosu Ravine as well as the Okutama Lake, both with easy hiking trails and suitable for a relaxing day out.
